The 2019 ALA/AASL election season is just around the corner! AASL is continuing the tradition of using the KQ website as a space for you to learn more about those standing for election on the AASL ballot. Candidates for the 13 open positions were asked to answer the question “What Shared Foundation speaks to you, and how does it apply to you as a leader in the association?” and provide a short introductory video.

As you read the candidates’ responses over the coming days, think of what you want the future of your professional organization to be. The votes we cast will determine the future of our association, so mark your calendar to cast your vote beginning March 11 and be sure your local and state peers are casting their informed votes as well. School librarians are a critical part of the American library ecosystem and voting in our association election is a clear way to demonstrate our voice, our power, and our fervent desire for the strongest future for school libraries!

The candidates for Supervisors Section Chair-Elect are:

• Mary Jo Richmond
• Christina Shepard Norman

Statements and/or videos were a voluntary option offered to all candidates.

Mary Jo Richmond

As the district supervisor of a fairly large district in central Maryland, I am honored to have the opportunity to possibly serve as the Chair-Elect for the SPVS Section of AASL. When I returned home from the last AASL conference I pinned the Shared Foundation clings in my cubicle as much for me as for the other curriculum specialists in my district. I hoped to engage my co-workers in conversation about my new décor! It worked. The one Shared Foundation that resonates the most to me is Collaborate because I truly believe that each one of us is stronger when we work with other people. For instance, any paper I write is stronger when someone helps me edit it. A project I work on in Central Office is stronger when a group works on it. Often times when I’m working with other people my thinking is definitely broadened in ways I couldn’t have imagined, especially when I take the time to really listen.

If I were to secure the position of AASL Supervisor Chair Elect I will look for opportunities for people who are supervisors or who work as supervisors to collaborate to help grow our profession, to share the knowledge from one district to another, to create new pathways for communication and to think about the best way to advocate for all school librarians through AASL.

Christina Shepard Norman

The Shared Foundation that speaks to me is Collaborate. On a daily basis I collaborate with the ELA, Science and Math, Title 1 and/or other librarians. I believe you collaborate, the mission and shared vision can be executed to fidelity. I also feel it is important to collaborate with community partners, especially the public library.

When we identify different learner profiles of the patrons we serve across the district, we are able to tailor the conversation, approach to learning and presentations. Collaboration is more personal when we know are target audience. When I visit schools, I am an active participant in the activities/lessons that take place in the library and/or the classroom. It just feels natural to help. Our schools need to see us as a resource.

As a leader in the organization, the standards should drive everything we do. We offer wonderful learning sessions based on the standards at all of the conventions and at the local level. The individuals who present are the next leaders of AASL. We have to encourage and collaborate with these librarians to become active on the national level.

AASL strives to be inclusive in every aspect including members, authors, vendors, presentations and facilities. As an organization, we collaborate with the different entities to exchange ideas. Collaboration brings everyone and everything together.

Author: Steven Yates

Steven Yates is an assistant professor and coordinator of the school library media certification program at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama. He earned a doctor of philosophy in instructional leadership with an emphasis in instructional technology in 2017.

Categories: Community